Insert holddown devices

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to holddown devices for insert rolls on shrimp peeling machines and embodies an upright member subject to being spring-loaded at its base and carrying a cross-beam member proximate its top which is retained in the loose fit by a plastic filler material which will permit the cross-beam to rock relative to the upright member. Each end of the cross-beam member is hooked downwardly to pass through and restrain insert roll holddown straps.

United States Patent Lapeyre et al.

[ Dec. 19, 1972 [54] INSERT HOLDDOWN DEVICES [72] Inventors: James M. Lapeyre; Robert F. Couret, both of New Orleans, La.

[73] Assignee: The Laitram Corporation, New Orleans, La.

22 Filed: July 19,1971

21] Appl.No.: 163,762

52 us. 01 .f... ..-.;17/73 [51] Int. Cl ..A22 c 29/00 [58] Field of Search ..l7/7l,' 72, 73

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,537,355 1/1951 Lapeyre et al....r. ...17/73' 2,778,055 1/1957 Lapeyre et al ..l7/73 Primary ExaminerLucie l-l. Laudenslager Attorney-A. RObertThiebauIt et al.

57] ABSTRACT A The present disclosure is directed to holddown devices for insert rolls on shrimp peeling machines and embodies an upright member subject to being springloaded at its base and carrying a cross-beam member proximate its top which is retained in the loose fit by a plastic filler material which will permit the cross-beam to rock relative to the upright member. Each end of the cross-beam member is hooked downwardly to pass through and restrain insert roll holddown straps.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PKTENTED Bin 19 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 2 INVENI'OR. JAMES M. LAPEYRE Q. BY Mm F. ouRE1' ATTORNEYS PATENTED um: 19 1912 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. JAMES/MT LA EYRE BY F. qwae ajmm ATTORNEYS 1 INSERT nownown DEVICES The present invention relates to INSERT HOLD- DOWN DEVICES for shrimp peeling machines of the type disclosed in prior U.S. Pat. No. 2,778,055, granted Jan. 22, .1957, in which the present Applicant is a joint inventor.

The present invention concerns more particularly improvements in the so-called hold-down devices illustrated in FIGS. 13, 17 and 18 of the Patent and described in column 7 of the Patent specification.

In the Patent these hold-down devices act equally in pairs on adjacent insert rollers located in peeling nips to provide an unwrapping" action on the shrimp as described in Column 3 of the Patent specification, lines 39-68.

As a-consequence of this united and equal action when one of the pair of insert-rollers lifts because of passage in the nip below same of unusually thick peel or because of entrainment of foreign matter, the companion insert roller would be released partially or wholly of the resilient hold-down pressure and momentarily fail in its assigned function.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to so mechanically modify the hold-down device that the resilient pressure of the hold-down device is always applied individually to both insert rollers without respect to the position of a companion insert roller to the end that uniform peeling action may at all times be performed in all peeling nips.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention will be more fully described hereinafter, and will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like symbols refer to like or corresponding parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a partial end elevational view of a shrimp peeling machine according to the aforesaid Patent incorporating the improved hold-down device.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary'perspective view of one unit of the machine incorporating the new double hook of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the unit showing the individual raising action of one of the insert rollers and the pivoting action of the double hook.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view through'the upper end portion of the new hold-down shank and double hook with parts in full and dotted positions.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shank with the double hook beam in intermediate or neutral position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 26 indicates the power rollers which form the bases of the several peeling channels and 27 and 28 are the side channel forming rollers. The insert rollers are shown at 29 and 30 as in the Patent.

Collars 106 are incorporated in the insert rollers 29 and 30, which collars are parts of or attached to the straps 107 and 107A, which converge downwardly between the rollers 26 and 27 and have at their lower ends the perforations 108 for individual engagement with the two hooks 96, 96a on the upper ends of the hold-down shanks 97.

The lower ends of the shanks 97 are threaded to receive wing or other nuts 100. Coil springs 101 are wound in a suitable number of convolutions between the nuts and the under side of the upper webs of the frame members 94. By rotating the nuts 100, the tension of the coil springs 101 can be appropriately adjusted so as to pull down upon the straps 107.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 4 and 5, the hooks 96 and 96a are inverted opening downwardly and are positioned and adapted to receive the perforations 108 and 108a of the straps 107 and 1070. The hooks 96 and 96a are arranged at opposite ends ofa cross-beam 109 fitted through transverse opening 110 in the upper end portion of shank 97 in such-wise that thecross-beam 109.may rock, as shown in FIG. 4 in response to individual upward thrusts of the straps 107, 107A. The upper wall 110.constitutes a fulcrum about which the cross-beam may rock in a substantially vertical plane. The opening will be large enough for the hooks 96, 96a to pass through. Any appropriate means may be used to retain the rocker beam 109 in the opening 110, for instance a suitable plastic material 111 which resists hardening maybe introduced as a filler.

' In the use of the device, normally the parts will be in the'position of FIG. 1 in which the expansive action of i the coil springs 101 will exert constant downward thrust on the shanks 97 to pull down the hooks 96 and 96a'which thrust'will be communicated to the insert rollers 29,30 holding the latter tightly to the peeling nips for performing satisfactory peeling action.

Should an obstruction get beneath one of the insert rollers, as shown in FIG. 3, the crosshead or beam 109 may rotate on its fulcrum permitting the hook 96a to rise without any substantial burden or change of compression on coil spring 101 and without materially affecting the pressure of spring 101 on strap 107 and insert rollers 29. In the same way the canting of the rocker member 109 in the opposite direction would permit insert roller 29 to rise without communicating a similar movement to its companion 30.

When hook 96a rises, as in FIG. 3, it depresses hook 96 but, as insert roller 29 cannot be materially lowered in its peeling crotch the effect is to lift nut 100 and I cause compression or further compression of spring 101 which eventually restores all parts to normal operative relations when the blockade passes.

What we claim is:

1. In a shrimp peeling machine, a unit of three rollers having at least two peeling nips therebetween, insert rollers in the nips, straps connected to the insert rollers and passing independently down through spaces between the rollers, a spring-loaded member beneath the straps, and a cross-beam connected to the straps at spaced points and movable relative to the springloaded member between such spaced points to permit one insert roller to rise relatively to the other insert roller.

2. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the cross-beam and spring-loaded member comprises a fulcrum in the spring-loaded member on which the cross-beam may rock incident to the rise of one of said insert roller.

3. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the spring-loaded member and cross-beam is both a slidable and pivotal one.

4. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the straps and the cross- 3 ,706,1 13 3 4 beam is by hooks opening downwardly at the ends of rocks. said beam. 6. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 5 5. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in fur her comprising a permanently plastic filler material which said spring-loaded member has a lateral hole In said hole and about 531d cross-beamthere-through and a fulcrum on which the cross-beam 5 

1. In a shrimp peeling machine, a unit of three rollers having at least two peeling nips therebetween, insert rollers in the nips, straps connected to the insert rollers and passing independently down through spaces between the rollers, a springloaded member beneath the straps, and a cross-beam connected to the straps at spaced points and movable relative to the springloaded member between such spaced points to permit one insert roller to rise relatively to the other insert roller.
 2. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the cross-beam and spring-loaded member comprises a fulcrum in the spring-loaded member on which the cross-beam may rock incident to the rise of one of said insert roller.
 3. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the spring-loaded member and cross-beam is both a slidable and pivotal one.
 4. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which the connection between the straps and the cross-beam is by hooks opening downwardly at the ends of said beam.
 5. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 1 in which said spring-loaded member has a lateral hole there-through and a fulcrum on which the cross-beam rocks.
 6. A shrimp peeling machine as claimed in claim 5 further comprising a permanently plastic filler material in said hole and about said cross-beam. 